Category: Maxxd News

oi-Dennis Abraham James

Updated: Friday, May 26, 2023, 18:50 [IST]

It
was
December
1985
and
Maruti
Suzuki
was
still
discovering
its
feet.
The
firm
burst
into
the
Indian
automotive
scene
with
the
800
in
1983.

Looking
to
switch
away
from
the
800
and
the
Van
based
on
it,
the
firm
set
its
sights
on
Mahindra’s ‘Indianised’ Jeeps
and
brought
the
Jimny
offroader
into
India.
Dubbed
the
Maruti
Suzuki ‘Gypsy’,
the
SJ40
series
gained
quite
a
cult
following
in
India.

Despite
the
Jimny
sold
in
other
markets
moving
forward
by
two
generations,
Maruti
Suzuki
persisted
with
the
Gypsy
taking
orders
for
civilians
till
December
2018
before
tightening
emission
and
safety
norms
rang
the
death
knell
for
the
offroader.

Since
then,
rumours
about
the
4th
Gen
Jimny
arriving
in
India
filled
the
pages
of
automotive
chat
rooms
across
the
nation.
Maruti
Suzuki
ended
the
speculation
at
Auto
Expo
2023
when
it
revealed
the
all-new
Jimny
for
India.

However,
the
Maruti
Suzuki
Jimny
sported
five
doors
instead
of
the
three-door
layout
prefered
elsewhere
which
had
us
more
than
intrigued
about
how
the
new
SUV
would
perform
given
there
was
no
increase
in
the
output
from
the
powerplant.

So
when
Maruti
Suzuki
gave
us
the
chance
to
test
out
the
new
Jimny
near
Dehradun,
we
dumped
everything
to
see
if
there
was
a
new
king
of
the
dirt
tracks.
The
answers
we
received
had
us
shining
up
a
dusty
old
crown
and
well
if
you
wish
to
know
why,
I’d
suggest
you
keep
reading
and
get
ready
to
prostrate
yourself
in
front
of
the
returning
king…

Maruti
Suzuki
Design
&
Features
–
Rugged
Retro
Boxiness
With
A
Few
Modern
Amenities

The
Maruti
Suzuki
Jimny
is
identical
to
its
3-door
sibling
except
for
the
extra
length
due
to
the
presence
of
an
extra
door
on
each
side.
So
while
it
may
be
longer,
the
India-spec
Jimny
is
just
as
boxy
and
rugged
as
its
international
counterpart.

The
Maruti
Jimny
is
a
throwback
to
the
1st
and
2nd
iterations
of
the
SUV.
The
front
end
sports
circular
LED
headlights
that
are
connected
by
five
chrome-adorned
vertical
slats
with
the
central
one
hosting
the
Suzuki
badge.
The
tiny
circular
turn
indicators
sit
near
the
headlights
on
the
top
edges
of
the
grille.

The
front
bumpers
on
the
Maruti
Suzuki
Jimny
are
angled
to
increase
the
ground
clearance
at
the
wheels
of
the
SUV.
Made
using
toughened
plastic,
the
bumpers
play
host
to
the
fog
lamps
and
a
large
central
air
intake.

The
sides
of
the
Jimny
reflect
the
rugged
nature
of
the
boxy
little
beast.
The
flared
wheel
arches
are
made
from
toughened
plastic
and
play
host
to
15-inch
alloy
wheels
that
are
shod
with
road-specific
rubber.

The
switch
to
a
five-door
layout
has
meant
that
the
rear
three-quarter
glass
panel
has
shrunk
significantly.
The
roof,
which
is
finished
in
a
bluish-black
shade
in
the
dual-tone
versions
of
the
Jimny,
features
drip
rails
on
the
sides
and
the
rear
to
ensure
that
water
doesn’t
drip
on
you
when
you
enter
or
exit
the
SUV.

The
rear
section
of
the
Jimny
is
as
boxy
as
the
rest
of
the
SUV
except
for
the
spare
wheel
which
is
mounted
onto
the
rear
door
of
the
SUV.
Except
for
the
third
brake
light
which
lives
on
the
door,
the
Jimny’s
entire
rear
lighting
setup
can
be
found
in
two
pods
on
the
rear
bumper.

Step
inside
the
all-new
Jimny
and
you’ll
be
greeted
by
a
spartan
interior
that
features
a
few
creature
comforts
that
bring
it
into
the
21st
century.
The
most
noticeable
of
these
features
comes
in
the
form
of
the
infotainment
screen
that
is
offered
in
either
7
or
9-inch
screen
options.

The
infotainment
touchscreen
allows
access
to
connectivity
options
like
Bluetooth,
Android
Auto
and
Apple
CarPlay
for
your
music
and
navigation
needs.
The
infotainment
system
is
connected
to
a
surround
sound
system
that
belts
out
your
favourite
tunes
with
ease.

The
rest
of
the
cabin
is
made
to
deal
with
the
rough
world
that
every
Jimny
owner
must
experience
–
the
great
outdoors.
The
dials
are
big
and
analogue
and
there
is
a
small
multi-information
display
in
between
for
all
your
other
required
car-related
information.

The
seats
are
designed
to
absorb
all
the
bumps
and
jumps
you’ll
find
up
and
down
a
rocky
crag.
The
front
passenger
also
gets
a
grab
rail
to
hold
onto
when
you
decide
to
get
adventurous
with
your
right
foot
on
the
dirt
and
rocks.

The
dash
and
other
sections
are
made
from
scratch
proof
material,
so
your
house
panther
will
need
to
transform
into ‘Panthera
leo’ to
make
a
mark
here.
The
controls
are
all
rather
large
and
easy
to
find
but
we
do
wish
Maruti
Suzuki
took
a
bit
more
time
to
arrange
them
a
bit
more
intuitively.

The
Jimny
also
comes
with
a
host
of
safety
features
including
6
airbags,
ABS
with
EBD,
Brake
Limited
Slip
Differential,
Hill
Hold
Control,
Hill
Descent
Control,
Brake
Assist,
rearview
camera
and
ISOFIX
anchor
points
for
child
seats.

Maruti
Suzuki
Jimny
Specs
&
Dimensions
–
Built
For
A
Bruising

The
all-new
Maruti
Suzuki
Jimny
for
India
is
powered
by
the
firm’s
K15B
1.5-litre
naturally-aspirated
four-cylinder
petrol
engine.
The
Jimny’s
powerplant
pushes
out
103.4bhp
at
6,000rpm
and
134.2Nm
of
peak
torque
at
4,000rpm.

The
engine
sends
power
to
all
four
wheels
via
either
a
5-speed
manual
or
a
4-speed
torque
converter
automatic
transmission
with
short
ratios.
The
transmission
is
paired
with
Suzuki’s
All
Grip
all-wheel-drive
system
and
the
new
Jimny
SUV
also
features
a
low-range
transfer
box.

As
was
the
case
with
the
old
Gypsy,
the
Jimny
uses
a
ladder-frame
chassis.
Taking
care
of
the
rough
stuff
is
a
3-link
suspension
setup
with
a
rigid
axle
and
coil
springs
at
both
the
front
and
the
rear.
The
Jimny
rides
on
15-inch
wheels
that
are
offered
in
both
steel
and
alloy
guises.
The
wheels
are
shod
with
195/80
R15
tyres.

The
Maruti
Suzuki
Jimny
is
3,985mm
long
(with
the
spare
wheel
attached),
1,645mm
wide
and
1,720mm
tall.
The
wheelbase
of
the
new
Jimny
is
2,590mm
long
and
weighs
1,210kg
in
its
heaviest
guise.
The
new
Jimny
offers
210mm
of
ground
clearance
and
sports
a
208-litre
boot.

Maruti
Suzuki
Jimny
Driving
Impressions
–
The
Real
Successor
To
The
Gypsy
King

The
Maruti
Suzuki
Jimny
is
built
to
go
off-piste
with
its
ladder
frame
chassis
and
off-roading
suspension
setup,
however,
that
doesn’t
mean
that
it
is
an
absolute
brute
on
the
road.

We
do
wish
the
engine
had
a
bit
more
power
to
deal
with
the
everyday
on-road
malarkey.
However,
with
its
more
than
good
enough
mid
and
top-end
power
it
will
get
from
point
A
to
B
without
breaking
into
too
much
of
a
sweat.

And
on
your
way
to
point
B,
the
Jimny
surprises
you
with
the
way
it
deals
with
the
ruts
and
bumps.
The
ride
is
smooth
and
the
SUV
doesn’t
bounce
around
despite
its
off-road-oriented
suspension
setup.

However,
there
is
considerable
body
roll
when
you
try
and
push
the
Jimny
into
a
corner
thanks
to
its
high-riding
setup.
The
steering
is
light
and
numb
and
the
turning
radius
of
5.4
metres
is
a
real
pain
especially
when
you’re
trying
to
execute
a
U-turn.

However,
all
that
changes
when
you
get
off
the
black
strip
of
tarmac
and
head
into
the
big
outdoors.
The
Jimny
transforms
from
a
shy
lamb
on
the
streets
into
a
jumping
jackrabbit
on
steroids
when
it
goes
off-piste.

The
engine
comes
into
its
own
off-the-beaten-path,
responding
to
the
slightest
of
inputs.
The
K15B
powerplant
provides
more
than
enough
low-end
grunt
to
easily
drag
you
out
of
a
tough
spot.

Both
gearboxes
combined
with
the
transfer
case
are
quite
nice
to
use
out
in
the
wild.
Surprisingly
it
is
the
automatic
gearbox
that
we
would
rather
go
with
as
it
is
slightly
easier
to
use.

While
the
manual
gives
you
a
bit
more
control
over
the
gears
and
the
revs,
the
automatic
box
can
limit
the
first
two
gears
from
revving
all
the
way
to
glory.
It
can
also
limit
itself
from
going
into
overdrive
when
the
Jimny
isn’t
on
the
black
stuff.

The
ability
to
shift
into
4
High
on
the
fly
with
the
transfer
case
is
an
absolute
boon
on
the
go
allowing
you
to
conquer
the
toughest
terrain.
And
if
one
wheel
does
lose
traction,
the
Brake
Limited
Slip
Differential
invokes
its
magic
to
keep
you
moving.

The
ladder-frame
chassis
3-link
suspension
setup
with
solid
axles
comes
into
its
own
when
it
is
time
to
conquer
the
rough
stuff.
You
can
take
the
Jimny
up
to
ridiculous
angles
while
keeping
the
body
shell
intact
and
upright.

Add
in
the
crazy
break-over,
approach
and
departure
angles
and
the
210mm
of
ground
clearance
and
you’ll
find
yourself
going
up
and
down
trails
that
would
otherwise
be
left
alone.

The
brakes
on
the
Jimny
perform
quite
well,
no
doubt
aided
by
the
fact
that
the
new
Maruti
Suzuki
SUV
is
a
proper
lightweight.
The
brake
pedal
also
has
a
bit
more
travel
than
you
would
expect,
so
do
keep
that
in
mind
when
you
drop
the
anchors.

The
addition
of
hill
hold
assist
and
hill
descent
control
is
a
big
boon
off
the
beaten
path.
The
hill
hold
assist
also
helps
out
quite
a
bit
when
you
find
yourself
stuck
on
an
incline
in
a
jam.

Final
Thoughts
About
The
Maruti
Suzuki
Jimny
–
The
Return
Of
The
True
Gypsy
King

The
arrival
of
the
Maruti
Suzuki
Jimny
sees
the
nation’s
biggest
carmaker
return
to
the
off-roading
enthusiast
market
since
the
departure
of
the
Gypsy
King
nearly
5
years
back.

The
Jimny
is
an
absolute
little
monster
off
the
beaten
path.
Add
a
rather
practical
cabin
and
some
decent
road
manners,
especially
some
excellent
ride
quality
and
the
Jimny
becomes
a
logical
choice
for
the
offroading
enthusiast
who
also
needs
a
slightly
practical
weekday
vehicle.

Source

oi-Dennis Abraham James

Published: Thursday, April 27, 2023, 11:56 [IST]

The
age
of
electric
vehicles
is
slowly
but
surely
coming
upon
us.
While
we
have
recently
been
inundated
with
larger-size
electric
vehicles
that
cater
to
the
family
guy
and
those
among
the
hoi-polloi.

However,
to
date,
there
hasn’t
been
an
EV
that
caters
to
the
generation
that
will
have
to
deal
with
the
permanent
shift
towards
full
electrification.
So
what
happens
when
a
carmaker
takes
notice
of
the
future
and
decides
to
come
up
with
a
quirky
yet
practical
solution?

A
visit
to
the
capital
saw
us
staring
at
the
rather
comically
small
(from
the
outside)
MG
Comet
EV.
A
chance
behind
the
wheel
of
the
Comet
EV
on
Delhi’s
streets
showed
us
just
what
MG
has
cooked
up
for
the
electric
future
of
the
nation…

MG
Comet
EV
Design
&
Features
–
Quirky
Yet
Useful

The
MG
Comet
EV
is
in
a
word
quirky.
There
is
something
rather
cheerful
and
funky
about
the
two-door
Comet
EV
that
draws
attention
to
it
as
does
its
rather
tiny
overall
footprint.

The
front
section
of
the
Comet
EV
slightly
sticks
out
in
front
of
the
raked
windscreen
of
the
micro
EV.
Taking
centre
stage
is
an
illuminated
MG
badge
that
also
acts
as
a
visual
aid
to
identifying
the
door
covering
up
the
Comet’s
charging
port.

Above
the
illuminated
badge
sits
a
lightbar-style
DRL
that
runs
across
the
width
of
the
Comet.
This
DRL
design
is
extended
further
to
the
sides
of
the
MG
Comet
EV
by
the
chrome
strips
that
run
to
the
integrated
turn
indicators
on
the
ORVMs.

Vertically
stacked
lights
can
be
found
on
either
side
of
the
lower
section
of
the
MG
Comet
EV’s
front
end.
These
include
twin
headlights
and
a
turn
indicator
on
each
side
of
a
small
air
intake
at
the
front.

The
quirks
and
fun
features
are
even
more
visible
from
the
sides
with
the
large
single
door
that
stretches
across
almost
the
entire
distance
between
the
wheels.

Immediately
after
this
a
vertical
three-quarter
window
panel
that
increases
the
glasshouse
area
of
the
Comet
EV.
MG’s
micro
EV
rides
on
tiny
12-inch
steel
wheels
that
sport
stylish
wheel
covers
for
a
bit
more
fun.

The
rear
section
of
the
MG
Comet
EV
is
quite
similar
in
design
to
the
front
end
of
the
microcar.
Sitting
underneath
the
vertical
rear
windscreen
is
a
full-width
lightbar
that
also
acts
as
a
large
brake
light.

Below
the
brake
lit
sits
the
MG
badge
(not
illuminated)
and
the
LED
taillights
can
be
found
in
vertically
stacked
units
that
sit
above
the
rear
bumper
of
the
all-new
Comet
EV.

Once
you
open
the
doors
of
the
MG
Comet
EV,
you’ll
be
greeted
by
a
cabin
that
looks
rather
minimalistic
and
modern.
The
dash
is
dominated
by
twin
10.25-inch
displays
for
the
instrumentation
and
infotainment
setups.

The
infotainment
screen
is
a
touchscreen
unit
that
supports
both
Android
Auto
and
Apple
CarPlay
wirelessly
and
comes
connected
to
a
twin-speaker
audio
system.
The
audio
can
be
controlled
by
the
controls
mounted
to
the
leather-wrapped
steering
wheel.

The
MG
Comet
EV’s
infotainment
screen
is
also
where
you
connect
with
the
microcar’s
connected
car
suite
that
includes
55+
features.
The
infotainment
screen
also
acts
as
a
display
for
the
rear-view
parking
camera.

Below
the
infotainment
screen
is
where
you
find
a
trio
of
knobs
that
help
control
the
manual
air-conditioning
system.
Putting
the
Comet
EV
into
gear
is
done
using
the
rotary
knob
between
the
front
seats
while
the
handbrake
is
a
proper
old-school
manual
lever.

The
MG
Comet
EV’s
seats
follow
the
same
dual-tone
grey
theme
as
the
rest
of
the
cabin.
While
the
seats
are
slightly
smaller
in
size
compared
to
those
in
regular-sized
cars,
they
are
quite
comfortable.

The
MG
Comet
EV
is
a
strict
four-seater
and
access
to
the
rear
seats
is
quite
easy.
This
is
thanks
to
the
one-touch
tumble
function
for
the
front
passenger
seat
and
the
long
door
that
allows
you
to
slip
into
the
back
row
of
seats.

For
those
wondering
just
how
safe
the
new
MG
Comet
EV
is,
there
is
good
news.
The
Comet
EV’s
high-strength
body
is
made
with
the
help
of
17
hot-stamped
panels.

The
Comet
EV
micro
car
from
MG
sports
dual
front
airbags,
ABS
with
EBD,
TPMS,
reversing
camera
and
sensors,
3-point
seatbelts
and
ISOFIX
anchor
points
for
child
seats
as
part
of
its
safety
arsenal.

MG
Comet
EV
Specs
&
Dimensions
–
Big
In
All
The
Small
Ways

The
MG
Comet
EV
is
the
smallest
car
that
has
hit
India’s
roads
in
terms
of
its
overall
length
coming
in
at
a
whopping
125mm
shorter
than
the
Tata
Nano.

The
MG
Comet
EV
is
2,974mm
long,
1,505mm
wide
and
1,640mm
tall.
The
electric
MG
Comet
has
a
2,010mm
long
wheelbase
and
a
turning
circle
of
4.2
metres.

The
MG
Comet
EV
is
powered
by
a
17.3kWh
lithium-ion
battery
pack
that
delivers
an
ARAI-certified
range
of
230
kilometres
on
a
single
charge.
The
Comet
EV
only
supports
AC
charging
and
charging
up
the
battery
pack
with
a
3.3kW
charging
cable
takes
7
hours
(10-80%
charge
takes
5
hours).

The
battery
pack
sends
power
to
a
single
electric
motor
mounted
to
the
rear
axle
of
the
Comet
EV
that
pushes
out
41.4bhp
and
110Nm
of
peak
torque.

MG
Comet
EV
Price
–
India’s
Most
Affordable
EV

The
MG
Comet
EV
is
priced
at
Rs
7.98
lakhs
(ex-showroom),
which
makes
it
the
nation’s
most
affordable
EV
currently
on
sale
today.

MG
Comet
EV
Driving
Impressions
–
Dinky
Electric
Shooting
Star

The
MG
Comet
EV’s
starting
procedure
is
as
quirky
as
the
rest
of
the
car.
Once
in
gear,
you
double-tap
the
brake
pedal
to
get
the
Comet
EV
rolling.

The
Comet
EV’s
powertrain
is
rather
noise-free
and
the
microcar
accelerates
in
a
linear
fashion
when
you
press
down
on
the
accelerator.
Hitting
speeds
of
around
110km/h
is
quite
possible
behind
the
wheel
of
the
all-new
Comet
EV.

MG’s
electric
microcar
offers
three
driving
modes
–
Eco,
Normal
and
Sport.
We
found
Eco
and
Normal
to
be
rather
similar
while
Sport
offered
a
definite
extra
bit
of
sharpness
in
terms
of
acceleration.

Speaking
of
the
steering,
the
slightly
small
wheel
only
offers
tilt
adjustment.
However,
it
feels
quite
light
in
the
hand
which
is
perfect
for
the
city
life
the
Comet
EV
is
meant
for.

A
light
steering
wheel
along
with
rear-wheel
drive
and
a
manual
handbrake
do
call
for
a
bit
of
fun.
However,
the
steering
doesn’t
quite
appreciate
aggressive
manoeuvring.

Speaking
of
fun,
pushing
the
Comet
EV
into
a
corner
isn’t
any.
This
is
due
to
the
unique
combination
of
the
MG
Comet
EV’s
tall-boy
design,
small
wheelbase,
tiny
wheels
and
soft
suspension
setup
which
means
that
body
roll
is
more
than
evident.

While
the
suspension
is
on
the
softer
side,
going
over
the
bad
roads
that
mar
our
cities,
especially
the
ones
in
New
Delhi
can
be
an
absolute
pain.
The
tiny
12-inch
wheels
that
are
shod
in
145/70
R12
rubber
make
any
journey
over
sharp
bumps
and
ruts
harsh,
to
say
the
least.

Thankfully
the
brakes
provide
enough
stopping
power
to
help
you
stop
before
and
evade
most
of
the
ruts
and
bumps.
The
Comet
EV
sports
disc
brakes
up
front
and
drums
at
the
rear
which
is
aided
along
by
multiple
levels
of
regen
braking.

The
brake
pedal
offers
more
than
adequate
travel
and
the
brakes
themselves
offer
good
initial
bite
and
good
progression
as
you
depress
the
pedal
down
further.

The
Comet
EV
also
sports
multiple
regen
modes
that
help
with
the
braking
with
the
strong
mode
being
the
best
of
the
bunch.
However,
one-pedal
driving
is
not
offered
with
the
Comet
EV,
which
we
feel
is
a
shame
considering
that
this
is
an
electric
car
for
the
city.

MG
claims
that
the
all-new
Comet
EV
will
provide
230km
of
range
on
a
single
charge.
While
we
didn’t
get
enough
time
behind
the
wheel
in
Delhi
to
test
this
out,
we
wouldn’t
rule
out
a
real-world
range
of
up
to
170
kilometres.

Final
Thoughts
About
The
MG
Comet
EV
–
Small
Package
For
GenZ
Drivers
Going
Big
On
EVs

The
MG
Comet
EV
is
a
quirky
little
electric
microcar
aimed
at
a
generation
that
is
more
than
likely
to
go
electric
for
their
first
car.

With
its
beguilingly
cute
looks,
surprisingly
sized
interior
aggressive
price
point
and
a
drive
that
won’t
bore
you
even
in
the
jams,
the
Comet
EV
from
MG
may
just
be
the
perfect
EV
for
the
GenZ
driver
looking
to
beat
the
buddhas
into
the
electric
age
despite
its
somewhat
harsh
ride.

Source

oi-Dennis Abraham James

Published: Sunday, April 9, 2023, 13:01 [IST]

Auto
Expo
2023
was
Maruti
Suzuki’s
big
showcase
of
the
year
and
the
nation’s
largest
carmaker
took
the
opportunity
to
show
off
its
SUV-focused
future.

Taking
its
place
alongside
the
EVX
concept
and
the
new
5-door
Jimny
was
a
new
crossover
SUV
based
on
the
Baleno.
Dubbed
the ‘Baleno
Cross’ by
the
automotive
fraternity,
that
had
been
setting
tongues
wagging
and
forcing
auto
pap
shutter
buttons
on
burst
whenever
it
tried
to
sneak
around
under
camo
cover.

At
Auto
Expo
2023,
the
Baleno-based
crossover
took
to
the
stage
for
the
first
time
with
its
official
Maruti
Suzuki
appointed
name
–
Fronx
(and
yes
we
did
roll
our
eyes
and
wonder
what
the
person
behind
it
was
sniffing).

Maruti
Suzuki
recently
came
calling
ahead
of
the
all-new
Fronx’s
launch
asking
us
if
we
wanted
a
turn
behind
the
wheel
of
its
brand-new ‘SUV’.
We
dutifully
dropped
tools
and
got
into
the
driver’s
seat
of
the
all-new
Fronx.

The
question
we
wanted
the
answers
to
was
if
Maruti
Suzuki
had
finally
got
the
crossover
SUV
right
or
if
we
had
another
jack
of
all
trades
and
master
of
none
on
our
hands.

Here’s
what
we
found
out
after
a
day
on
the
busy
roads
of
Goa
in
the
all-new
Maruti
Suzuki
Fronx…

Maruti
Suzuki
Fronx
Design
&
Features
–
The
Nexa
Kool-Aid
Blend

When
Maruti
Suzuki
first
pulled
the
covers
off
the
Fronx
at
Auto
Expo,
we
were
greeted
by
a
rather
eclectic
mix
of
the
latest
hits
from
the
firm’s
premium
Nexa
department
shaped
into
what
was
quite
obviously
a
crossover
hatchback.

At
the
front,
the
new
Fronx
quite
obviously
takes
inspiration
from
Maruti’s
flagship
Grand
Vitara
SUV.
The
crossover
hatchback
sports
an
upright
front
end
with
a
split
headlamp
design.

The
triple
LED
DRLs
are
connected
to
the
Suzuki
badge
set
into
the
upper
section
of
the
grille
by
chrome
strips.
These
chrome
strips
start
off
the
size
of
the
DRLs
before
suddenly
thinning
out
into
sleek
strips
as
they
join
up
at
the
Suzuki
badge.

Like
the
Grand
Vitara,
the
headlamps
of
the
new
Fronx
crossover
hatchback
are
found
in
their
own
enclosures
on
the
sides
of
the
front
bumper.
Underneath
the
grille
sits
a
sleek,
angular
air
dam
section
with
the
grey,
faux
bash
plate
sitting
further
below.

When
viewed
from
the
side,
the
Fronx”s
Baleno
heritage
shines
through
with
the
section
near
the
C-pillar
a
rather
familiar
site
for
owners
of
Maruti’s
premium
hatchback.
The
C-pillar
also
features
a
black
plastic
insert
which
gives
the
illusion
of
a
floating
roof.

The
rear
section
of
the
Fronx
crossover
hatchback
is
all
new
as
are
the
geometric
precision-cut
16-inch
alloy
wheels.
The
rear
section
of
the
Fronx
sports
a
sharply
raked
windscreen
and
connected
LED
taillights
that
give
the
Fronx
a
rather
distinct
look
when
someone
gazes
at
it
from
the
back.

However,
it
is
when
you
open
the
doors
and
get
inside
the
cabin
of
the
new
Fronx
does
the
new
car’s
Baleno
origins
really
flare
into
life.
The
cabin
of
the
new
Fronx
looks
like
it
has
been
directly
lifted
off
from
the
Baleno,
which
may
put
off
some
buyers.

The
dash
feels
rather
plasticky
and
the
lack
of
soft-touch
materials
seems
like
a
rather
avoidable
miss
from
Maruti.
The
seats
are
rather
comfortable
though
Maruti
could
have
added
an
armrest
at
the
rear
to
give
the
Fronx
a
more
premium
feel.

The
all-new
Fronx’s
cabin
sports
a
dual-tone
theme
with
the
layered
dash
playing
host
to
a
large
9-inch
infotainment
screen
with
support
for
both
Android
Auto
and
Apple
CarPlay.

The
display
also
allows
owners
to
interact
with
the
Suzuki
Connect
suite
of
40+
connected
car
features.
The
output
from
the
360-degree
camera
is
also
transmitted
through
the
central
display.

Other
features
on
the
Fronx
include
a
heads-up
display,
a
wireless
phone
charging
pad
and
paddle
shifters
for
the
automatic
variant.

The
new
Maruti
Suzuki
Nexa
comes
packed
with
safety
tech
as
well
with
the
crossover
hatchback
sporting
up
to
6
airbags,
ABS
with
EBD,
ESP,
Hill-Hold
Assist,
rear
parking
sensors,
the
aforementioned
360-degree
camera,
day/night
IRVM
and
ISOFIX
anchor
points
for
child
seats.

The
all-new
Fronx
is
offered
with
a
choice
of
6
single-tone
colour
options
–
Nexa
Blue,
Arctic
White,
Grandeur
Grey,
Earthen
Brown,
Opulent
Red,
and
Splendid
Silver.
Also
on
offer
are
three
dual-tone
colours
–
Earthen
Brown,
Opulent
Red,
and
Splendid
Silver
with
Bluish-Black
roofs.

Maruti
Suzuki
Fronx
Specs
&
Dimensions
–
The
Return
Of
The
Turbo
Three-Pot

The
Maruti
Suzuki
Fronx
is
offered
with
two
engine
options
–
the
1.2-litre
naturally
aspirated
K12C
engine
and
an
updated
version
of
the
998cc
turbocharged
three-cylinder
engine
that
was
last
seen
on
the
Baleno
RS.
Both
engines
feature
mild-hybrid
tech.

The
1.2-litre
engine
is
lifted
directly
from
the
Baleno
and
produces
88.5bhp
at
6,000rpm
and
113Nm
of
peak
torque
at
4,400rpm.
The
K12C
engine
is
offered
with
5-speed
manual
and
automatic
(AMT)
gearbox
options.

The
three-cylinder
Boosterjet
engine
churns
out
98.7bhp
at
5,500rpm
and
147.6Nm
of
peak
torque
from
2,000
to
4,500rpm.
The
Boosterjet
version
of
the
Fronx
is
offered
with
either
a
5-speed
manual
gearbox
or
a
6-speed
torque
converter
automatic
transmission.

The
Maruti
Suzuki
Fronx
is
3,995mm
long,
1,765mm
wide
and
1,550mm
tall
and
sports
a
2,520mm
long
wheelbase.
The
Fronx
offers
190mm
of
ground
clearance,
a
37-litre
petrol
tank
and
a
308-litre
boot.

The
Fronx
weighs
from
965
to
975kg
for
the
version
equipped
with
the
1.2-litre
engine
while
the
turbocharged
versions
of
the
crossover
hatchback
weigh
between
1,015
and
1,060kg.

Maruti
Suzuki
Fronx
Driving
Impressions
–
Boosted
Twitch

We
got
to
drive
the
new
Fronx
with
the
Booster
Jet
engine
and
the
6-speed
torque
converter
automatic
gearbox.
The
combination
while
good
on
paper
isn’t
a
booster
banger
getting
off
the
line.

The
boosted
three-pot
takes
a
bit
of
time
to
spool
up
but
offers
good
mid-range
and
top-end
grunt.
Once
on
the
move
and
in
boost,
the
turbocharged
engine
is
a
hoot
to
drive
though
it
can
get
a
bit
noisy
at
the
top
end.

The
6-speed
automatic
has
all
the
characteristics
of
an
old-school
torque
converter
as
it
takes
a
bit
of
time
to
wake
up
but
once
going,
shifts
through
the
gears
with
ease.

The
gearbox
is
best
left
in
automatic
mode,
though
if
you
want
to
have
a
bit
of ‘fun’,
changing
gears
with
the
paddle
shifters
will
easily
give
you
the
feels.

If
you
have
a
leaden
right
foot,
the
gearbox
eagerly
shifts
down
two
gears,
which
makes
overtaking
a
dun
endeavour.
However,
if
you
care
more
about
mileage,
that
right
foot
better
remain
as
light
as
possible.

Braking
duties
are
handled
by
disc
brakes
at
the
front
and
drums
at
the
rear.
While
the
brake
pedal
has
a
bit
more
travel
than
we
expected,
the
Fronx
offers
good
initial
bite
progression
when
you
step
on
the
anchors.

The
suspension
setup
of
the
Fronx
is
perhaps
its
best
point.
The
Fronx’s
suspension
setup
is
slightly
on
the
stiffer
side
though
this
doesn’t
really
cause
any
issues
when
going
over
our
bumpy
and
pothole-friendly
roads.

However,
don’t
go
shoving
the
Fronx
into
a
corner
as
while
there
is
a
bit
of
body
roll,
it
is
the
slightly
twitchy
steering
that
really
lets
it
down.

The
steering
is
way
too
light
when
travelling
at
higher
speeds,
which
doesn’t
really
help
with
your
confidence.
However,
considering
most
Fronx
owners
will
find
themselves
stuck
inside
the
city,
the
light
steering
can
also
be
a
blessing
as
we
found
on
the
crowded
and
narrow
streets
of
Goa.

Final
Thoughts
About
The
Maruti
Suzuki
Fronx
–
Almost
A
Mastered
Mashup

The
Maruti
Suzuki
Fronx
takes
the
Baleno
formula
and
raises
it
slightly
more
above
the
ground
to
give
a
pseudo-SUV
combination
that
will
appeal
to
most
buyers.
For
us
though,
the
lack
of
a
sport
mode
and
the
ultra-light
steering
at
high
speeds
were
slightly
off-putting.

However,
Fronx
isn’t
a
jack
of
all
trades.
The
Fronx
does
the
crossover
hatchback
game
rather
well.
If
Maruti
Suzuki
is
as
aggressive
as
they
usually
are
with
the
pricing,
we
expect
the
Fronx
to
start
flying
out
of
showrooms
when
it
finally
hits
the
streets
later
this
month…

Source